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Time in NBA D-League did Minnesota Timberwolves rookie center Chris Richard some good

Time in NBA D-League did the rookie center some good

By Rick Alonzo ralonzo@pioneerpress.com

Posted:
03/04/2008 12:01:00 AM CST

Updated:
03/04/2008 12:32:22 AM CST

Rookie center Chris Richard became the latest example of the Timberwolves' youth movement when he played 12 minutes Sunday against Seattle. That marked his most minutes in a game since Dec. 29.

Richard spent six games in the development league before being recalled when the NBA all-star break ended last month. He said he has played with much more confidence in four games since returning to the Wolves, who play host to Charlotte tonight.

"I think my confidence is a lot higher now," Richard said Monday. "Before I went down, I kind of dreaded it and didn't want to go. But now I see the benefits of going. Now I care about making a mistake, but if I make a mistake, I just play through it. Before, if I made a mistake, I got down on myself and would keep looking over at the bench to see if coach (Randy Wittman) was going to send somebody in."

The Wolves cited the desire to play Richard more down the stretch this season as a reason for buying out the contract of veteran center Theo Ratliff last week.

Richard hit three baskets and grabbed three rebounds against Seattle. His strength continues to be his positioning on defense, but he is developing on offense.

"He was very good, active," Wittman said. "He made himself available (to receive the ball). Those are things he's got to continue to do. Not hiding from the ball, making himself available in spots, cleaning up offensive rebounds because of how they're going to play Al (Jefferson).

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Wittman said he would like to see Richard develop a shot in the post that he can score with consistently. He already has noticed a difference in Richard since Richard's stint in the D-League.

"I see much more of him wanting to be in the right spot," Wittman said. "I thought early on, from an offensive standpoint, maybe he didn't want the ball. He's going to find the ball quite a bit. He's got the ability there inside with good hands and strength to score."

Waiting it out: Wolves veteran Antoine Walker said the team offered him a low-ball buyout offer on his contract and that this season has turned into a "terrible" situation for him.

"I just want to play," Walker said. "Obviously they're rebuilding, and obviously I'm not in the future plans. So I felt like maybe there was an opportunity for me to leave. They wanted money back that I wasn't willing to give back. It didn't work out that way. We'll just have to play it out, six weeks, and then we'll see what happens in the summer."

Walker said the Wolves' buyout offer "wasn't even reasonable."

"It was way off the charts," said Walker, declining to comment on specifics. "It was ridiculous, actually."

Walker said he no longer is interested in a buyout, contrary to a report, because he can't make another team's playoff roster. He had to be bought out and placed on waivers by Saturday night to be eligible for the playoffs.

Walker said he would remain professional, practice hard and stay in shape as the season winds down. He said he likes his teammates and wants them to succeed. But he considers his situation unfortunate.

"It's like a wasted year for me personally," he said. "I didn't want to be put in this situation. I was afraid of this coming in. It's turned out to be a terrible situation for me. I've just got to keep working."

Briefly: Rookie Corey Brewer is a game-time decision today after suffering a right thigh bruise Sunday. Brewer sat out of practice Monday and could barely walk, Wittman said.

Veteran Marko Jaric practiced in a limited role. Jaric, who did not play Sunday, also is a game-time decision with a knee injury.